Healthiest Life 4 Me

Since it’s poetry month, I thought I’d post one of my favorite poems of all time.  It is called After Apple Picking by Robert Frost.  I was first introduced to it by my High School IB English teacher. 

AFTER APPLE PICKING

by Robert Frost

My long two-pointed ladder’s sticking through a tree
Toward heaven still,
And there’s a barrel that I didn’t fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn’t pick upon some bough. 5
But I am done with apple-picking now.
Essence of winter sleep is on the night,
The scent of apples: I am drowsing off.
I cannot rub the strangeness from my sight
I got from looking through a pane of glass 10
I skimmed this morning from the drinking trough
And held against the world of hoary grass.
It melted, and I let it fall and break.
But I was well
Upon my way to sleep before it fell, 15
And I could tell
What form my dreaming was about to take.
Magnified apples appear and disappear,
Stem end and blossom end,
And every fleck of russet showing clear. 20
My instep arch not only keeps the ache,
It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round.
I feel the ladder sway as the boughs bend.
And I keep hearing from the cellar bin
The rumbling sound 25
Of load on load of apples coming in.
For I have had too much
Of apple-picking: I am overtired
Of the great harvest I myself desired.
There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch, 30
Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall.
For all
That struck the earth,
No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble,
Went surely to the cider-apple heap 35
As of no worth.
One can see what will trouble
This sleep of mine, whatever sleep it is.
Were he not gone,
The woodchuck could say whether it’s like his 40
Long sleep, as I describe its coming on,
Or just some human sleep.

Here it is, 2 weeks in a row!  This is a short quick one because it’s been a long week and very busy!

FAVORITE

This week my favorite is getting stronger.  Each new week I am feeling stronger in a new body part.  This week it was back…135 lb lat pulls for the last set and was able to do 6 of them all on my own!  55 lb bent over rows for the first time…8 of them!  And the best feeling is when I look over at the 20ish year old guy next to me doing the same exercise with less weight!  HAHA!! I LOVE IT!!  And for all those women out there who think they are gonna get bulky if they lift heavy…you are WRONG!! 

Not so Favorite:

A personal not so favorite this week.  My least favorite thing this week is the feeling that I can’t get back on track with my diet.  I have had a week of cravings and giving in.  I am not happy with myself, but am going to refocus and start over tomorrow.  Need to try to hit two weeks of PERFECTION and NO CHEATING.  SO here goes the second try of the year!!

**Note: I had this set to post and it never did, so I reposted it on Saturday!

Here is a poem to inspire you to reach your goals in all areas of your life.  I found it online and thought I must share!  Enjoy!

 

 

What Is Success?

It’s doing your work the best your can,
And being just to your fellow man;
It’s making money, but holding friends,
And staying true to your aims and ends;
It’s figuring how and learning why,
And looking forward and thinking high,
And dreaming a little and doing much;
It’s keeping always in closest touch
With what is finest in word and deed;
It’s being thorough, yet making speed;
It’s daring blithely the field of chance
While making labor a brave romance.
It’s going onward despite defeat,
And fighting staunchly, but keeping sweet;
It’s being clean and it’s fighting fair;
It’s laughing lightly at Dame Despair;
It’s looking up to the stars above.
And drinking deeply of life and love;
It’s struggling on with the will to win,
But taking loss with a cheerful grin;
It’s sharing sorrow, and work, and mirth,
And making better this good old earth;
It’s serving, striving, through strain and stress;
It’s doing your noblest…that’s success!
                                             ~Author Unknown

Pleas know that all of us falter at some point in time.  Even the strongest, most dedicated have rough spots.  Polish them up and MOVE ON!!  Dream of heaven and reach for the stars!

As I sat and watched Biggest Loser last night it took me back to the thoughts of starting my journey from the FAT and unhealthy me I was to the much thinner, more muscular, and healthier me I am today.  As much as the starting weights make me want to cry for them, it’s not about the starting weight…it is what it is!  But at some point you have to just DECIDE to TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE!!  There are too many resources out there to use to help you get to the point you want to be at. 

It is encouraging and inspiring to watch these people go through such a real event.  Morbidly obese, bearing their all.  It is sad to see their size and hear their stories.  It is scary to think that it could happen to you…so DON’T LET IT!! 

I know…it is so scary to start out.  You are thinking, “Where do I start?”  “How will I do it?”  “Where do I go for information?” Here are the steps I took to start out:

1)  Firmly decided that I WAS going to lose 30 pounds!  You need to pick a number…it needs to be realistic.  I just set a number, but not an amount of time. You need to tell people and you need to keep it in your mind at all times!

2)  Found a friend that was already working out and had her help me at the gym.  I didn’t pay her, but I went when she was going to go.  I made her schedule my schedule…after all, it was me who needed the help.  Although she was trim and fit, I was help to her to.  Of course, I lost more weight…I had more to lose.  But it encouraged her to work hard.  I can’t stress enough how important it is to have a partner.  It keeps you accountable and encourages you.  It also makes you have to explain to someone else why you are backing out on a particular day…so you really go more often.

3)  I took a look at my diet.  However, I just cut calories at first.  NOT THE RIGHT WAY!!  I wish I knew then what I know now about nutrition.  This is the area I suggest you seek help.  Because if you do it right, you can maximize your workouts and weight loss CAN and WILL be achieved with diet.  After all, it’s 80% of the equation!

4)  I made an effort to do active things with my kids and husband when we had time to do things together.  Instead of going to the movies, we took our bikes to the beach, walked the shore at the tide pools, etc.  We moved and shared our time together.  We even took evening walks together now and then to “get the dog active” was always what I told the kids. 

5) Re-evaluate your goal and make sure you are doing what is necessary to stay on track.  AND don’t be discouraged by a bad day…just wake up the next day and start fresh and new!  Always believe you ARE GOING TO REACH YOUR GOAL!

I didn’t do this, but I do it now and I wish I knew about it then…find an online community of people like you to use as support.  It is truly inspiring and uplifting to discuss goals, obstacles, and everything else you can think of!  My suggestion is to learn to Twitter…it’s a great place to share with like minded people.  There are lots of websites for women exclusively or both sexes to join and gain support.  Just beware on all of these places people can post whatever they want…it doesn’t have to be true.  So build relationships and learn and research for yourself.  It is only YOU that can make it happen for YOU!!

6) Journaling your food and your workouts can help a lot.  Food wise, it’ll help you see what you are putting into your mouth each day and help you decide what can get cut out. Workout journaling will help you become motivated by your progress. 

Over the next few months, I will help you achieve your goals.  Drop me a note and let me know what I can do.  I will do my best, but the work is up to you!!

New Year’s Resolutions are so cliché, so my goal isn’t a resolution.  In fact, it’s the same goal I’ve been striving to reach for over a year now.  Only last year I reached it, didn’t know it and then faltered and have had trouble ever since.

Last year I came up with a goal of going 30  days sugar free and to reach the  weight it said on my driver’s license.  Well, I made it to day 26 of the sugar free attempt  and I actually got to my weight on my driver’s license, but didn’t know it because I thought it said something different.  LOL  What a dork I am.  Dork or not, my goals are very similar again.  Starting today I am attempting another 30 days sugar free and shooting for a goal of that driver’s license weight again but I want to get to 18% body fat and find my abs as well.

So I’d like to set my other goals for this year that are not just fitness for me related…I am hoping that among all the things I have going on that I will find the time to post at least once a week about something health and fitness related.  In addition, I am going to try to blog about my progress weekly.  Instead of becoming overwhelmed and ignoring my blog, I am hoping to use it to relieve some of my stress from school (7 classes and student teaching, and a test away from having my credential and master’s), working, training, carpool/taxi, etc.  However, some weeks are crazier than most and I want to find quality information, so only 1 wellness blog a week, the rest are bonus blogs and about my life and struggles! 

In addition, this year’s main goal is to complete my teaching credential, pass my CSET in English (and maybe PE too), and complete my master’s degree.  I’d like to land the PERFECT teaching job for next school year, but with the budget the way it is in CA, that is more of a hope than a goal since I have no control over it.  Hopefully the doors will open in the right places. 

If I falter from this goal (and it is possible), please shoot me a note on Twitter @survival and remind me to stick to my goal! It’s not nagging…it truly is help and encouragement!

Gotta hear this amazing man talk about Genesis and the science of it.

I have many friends that ask about my diet and how I do what I do.  I usually have the same answer and I am not sure it sets very well.  I tell them I pay big $$ for my plan and that it is set up specific to me.  It takes into consideration my workout, the calories I burn at a resting rate, and my likes and dislikes. I spend time working out much harder than all of my friends, therefore giving them my diet won’t help them lose weight because I burn a ton more calories during my workout.  I also notice that when I try to explain the basics of eating right, they are uninterested because it takes a lot of work.  So I thought I’d try my best to break it down a bit and let people figure out how they could fit it best into their lives.

To begin with, you will need a piece of paper to do the calculations.  Here is the info for fat loss:

• Total Daily Calories = Bodyweight times 12

this may need to be dropped to x11 or x10 if no progress after a few weeks

• Protein = 1g per lb of Body Weight

(4 calories per gram)
can go up to 1.5g if desired

• Fat = .4-.5g per lb Body Weight

(9 calories per gram)
yes, you read that right, healthy fats are important for fat loss (you can’t burn fat if you don’t eat fat!! STAY AWAY FROM FAT FREE PRODUCTS)

• Carbs = whatever remains to meet your calorie total

(4 calories per gram)

After this, you will break it all up between 5-6 meals with the last meal being only protein right before bed.  Your meals should be spaced out every 3 hours. 

Hope this helps out!  Good luck and post your results!  It will be fun to see everyone’s progress!!

Enriching Lives Everyday through
Greater Health and Greater Wealth

Symmetry helps people from all walks of life turn their individual dreams into reality. Symmetry’s Compensation Plan in its entirety surpasses other profit plans in the industry, providing our business partners with freedom, lifestyle, unlimited income and endless opportunity.

A few examples of the remarkable potential with Symmetry:

• 64% Commission Paid
• Paid up to 12 levels
• Easily attainable bonuses - low qualification amounts
• Long-term residual income
• Weekly, Monthly, and Bonus checks
• Cash prizes, all expense paid trips, car bonuses and other rewards
• Completely transparent global expansion

With global expansion in various international markets, Symmetry has helped improve the lives of countless people worldwide by enhancing overall health, improving financial conditions and helping people attain the success they’ve only dreamed of. We affirm to be at the leading edge of product innovation while continuing to build the most respected network-marketing company across the globe!

View our video below for more information and choose a Business Pack best suited for your personal goals. Don’t wait any longer - capitalize on this once in a lifetime opportunity!

If you would like to learn more, contact me at (909) 213-7927.  It’s a must see!

Well, folks!  It’s been a crazy, busy life lately.  I think about blogging often, but just haven’t been able to find the time to do anything but work and workout, so I am sorry! But I do want to catch you up with what I’ve been up to! 

First off, I am no longer working towards the Max Formation Challenge but still working towards my goal of 16% bodyfat.  Although, there seems to always be a week 6 set back.  But back on track finally and heading back towards my goal. 

At the moment, I am a long term sub at El Cerrito Middle School in an elective class that is a Consumer Science (Home Ec type class).  It has been a lot of fun.  I am half way through this job and am gonna miss it a ton when it’s over.  I have some great kids and enjoy all their personalities so much.  Right now the kids are creating menu’s for their own restaurant on the classwork days and cooking on the lab days.  We have made Easy Cookies (a quick oatmeal cookie), Sweet Potato Fries (with yams not sweet potatoes because there weren’t enough at the store) which the kids were pleasantly surprised that they liked, some of my classes (the extremely good ones) made Baked Mozzarella, and Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Last food lab is this week and I am still trying to decide what to make with them.  Then we have testing for a week with this group of kids.  Since I teach the elective class, they switch every 5 weeks and I will get a new group for a week, but won’t get to have much fun with them because it is a testing week also! 

My business is growing and growing and the company keeps making improvements to the products and the pay plan.  Their newest improvement I have blogged about before: GENESIS X-24!  The only product on the market to provide 24 hour antioxidant protection.  Check out this video about it at: http://64.71.12.242/template/video_genesisnew.htm  It will show you all you need to know about this AMAZING product!  On top of rolling out an Improved version of the TOP SELLING product, the company just enhanced the compensation plan to put more money into the reps pockets EACH WEEK!! That is right, EACH WEEK!!  They did this without raising the prices on ANY of their products, not even the enhanced one!  I can say, this company is like no other.you won’t find a company that cares more about the people working with it than this one!  Their mission is truly to enhance EVERYONE’S LIFE!!  You choose whether it is for wealth, health or both!! I sure pick both!  And I do all this in addition to what I am already doing.  You wouldn’t be expected to give up anything.  This company is looking for people who want to have their next 5 years be different than the last 5 years of their lives.  Do you want to work hard?  Or do you want to work SMART?  I pick smart!! I would for sure rather have 1% of 100 people’s efforts than 100% of my own!  How about you????  If you are interested in hearing more, contact me at (909) 213-7927.  If you aren’t in my area, we can work out a way to get you the information.  =) 

Well, that is my last few weeks in a nutshell.  Promise I will try harder to post more!  Thanks for being patient!

Immune System Support
. Flu Protection
. Anti-Inflammatory
. Support for Auto-Immune
Dysfunction
. Protect against Disease

Cardio-Vascular Support
. Lower high blood pressure
. Lower bad cholesterol
. Raise good cholesterol
. Increases pliability of arteries
and veins
. Improve circulation
. Energize the heart muscle

Cancer Protection
. Kills cancer cells (aptosis)
. Repairs DNA
. Powerful antioxidant
. Supports body during
chemotherapy
. Inhibits growth of tumors

Obesity
. Reverses inflammation
causing insulin resistance
. Reduces excess fat cells
. Mobilizes stored fat

Biblical Herbal Infusion
. Benefits of cold infused
process
. Phyto-nutrients of over 20
herbs

Joint Support
. Reduces Inflammation
. Improves Circulation

Anti-Aging
. Reduces damaging inflammation
. Repairs DNA
. Improves Skin quality
. Lustrous hair
. Strong nails
. Fights Alzheimer’s disease

Lung Function
. Helps control asthma
. Fight COPD (chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease)
. Reduces hay fever symptoms

Organ Support
. Inhibits macular degeneration
. Prevents gum disease
. Supports liver function
. Maintains kidney function
. Improves digestion and relieves
stomach problems

Other
. Boosts energy
. Reduces headaches
. Anti-biotic = fights fungus
. Anti-depressant
. Sexual enhancement
. Diabetic support
. Tastes great!

Now with X’Tranol-24T!
. Provides the key nutrients found
in red wine without the water or
alcohol
. Provides your body with 24 hour
protection from cell damage,
inflammation, free radicals, DNA
damage, protein oxidation and
more.

For more information or to order contact me at lisasurvillas@healthiestlife4me.com!  Look forward to helping you LIVE WELL.LONGER!!!